New York's Nate Robinson to defend Slam Dunk title

Nate Robinson, top, of the New York Knicks lays the ball up over Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 24 at Madison Square Garden in New York. PHOTO: AFP

Tiny Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks will look to defend his Slam Dunk title and scratch his name into the record books as just the third player to win consecutive crowns when he faces three first-time high flyers as part of NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas.

The 175cm Robinson will take on Boston's Gerald Green, Orlando's Dwight Howard and Chicago's Tyrus Thomas on Feb. 17 at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Should win, Robinson will join Golden State's Jason Richardson (2002 and 2003) and Chicago's Michael Jordan (1987 and 1988) as the only back-to-back winners in the crowd-pleasing competition.

Last year in Houston, Robinson was awarded a perfect score of 50 by judges in a dunk-off to beat Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala and become only the second player under 6 feet (183cm) to win the event.

The four participants will have to win judges including Jordan, Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, 1997 champion and this year's starting Western Conference All-Star guard Kobe Bryant, 2000 Slam Dunk winner Vince Carter and 11-time NBA All-Star and Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Julius "Dr J" Erving.